Amped Up Photography

Photos by Lee Hammock

Lake Oconee resident Lee Hammock has photographed lightning every summer for almost 20 years. This year, the weather was so intense that he took more lightning pictures in one week than in the previous two summers combined, he said.

“We have such a beautiful lake to be the foreground, it makes amazing pictures,” he added.

The single lightning bolt becomes multiple subsequent "return strokes" and "dart leaders," which to the naked eye, appear to be happening at the same time.

Because we’re usually (or should be) tucked safely away inside while the “shocking” shows are in progress, Lakelife asked Hammock if he’d share some of his photos with us and our readers.

“The most challenging part is getting a good foreground composition with the unpredictability of lightning,” he explained. “The fun part is not knowing what the shot will look like, no matter how much I prepare.”

The top of this cloud-to-ground lightning strike seems to draw a circle in the cloud (near the top of the photo), as well perhaps a small, rare "ball lightning".

Lee emphasized that the storms are 10 to 20 miles away when he’s photographing, and he makes sure he’s back inside before there’s any danger of his camera getting wet or of being struck by lightning.

More of Lee’s lightning photos can be seen on his social media accounts: Nextdoor (Lee Hammock, Lake Oconee), Facebook (facebook.com/lee.hammock.5), or Instagram (@leehammock); prints are available.

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This photo essay appeared in Lakelife magazine, Volume 19, Issue 5 and is the property of Smith Communications, Inc. No portions of the story or photos may be copied or used without written consent from the publisher.